A caged bird

I cant say i've seen alot of bad (or good) romances in life, but i guess having enough people around you...sharing their stories about life and all; opens up alot of possibilities to the theme.

NGF has joined our inner circle only recently. At first, i have to admit i was feeling rather reserved towards him. He's making his advancement in the ranks within circle way too fast. And when someone is always too eager to please, i have to cast my biggest doubts on them. Anyway, that should be an entirely different chapter for some unprecedented time.

For once, i felt sorry for him last night. It's our first French class, he looked completely washed-out after. Apparently, he had just shifted to his new flat in the morning, rushed to work...and had to endure the 3hours classroom after. By the time we finished class it was already 930pm, he was fumbling to call 'home' and i overheard him reporting his whereabouts to his fiancé (wooo hooo another french word) and that he is making his way back. I still feel sorry for him, i honestly do. M referred to him as a caged bird. I added; wet. Even if he's let out of the cage at times, i doubt he can fly at all. Such is life. Or in French, they say C'est La Vie.

Bonjour!

Today's the day i started my French class. After years of thinking if i should pick up Jap, Italiano etc. I guess partly because of work or the crowd, that I've decided on French...and thus, my next step to mastering another language (i hope!).

Although i may say its been quite a mind-numbing experience. And it's only my first lesson. Having to go through a 3hour classroom after work is not an easy task. Though my french-canadian teacher has been more than accommodating, having conducted the class in a more fun learning experience...but i guess the its the participation that sucks the juice out of most of us.

Today i learn how to say "Bonjour, Je m'apelle Joey", "Jeus Suis Malaisien".
The R is the killer...i almost choke myself with my saliva while practising on the way home. Then there's the count from 1-29...ahhh i would very much like to continue counting but i really lack the mental capacity to do that right now. I guess i should call it an early night and dream about something totally unnecessary. Too bad I didn't learn how to say Good Nite...perhaps some other nights.

Monopoly

I had my rain check birthday lunch with Kev yesterday, after a sumptuous jap at Esplanade we talked about how life used to be when we were young. I told him about the story of Land and the Farmer, and how i wondered humans are so ungrateful most of the time; and he relayed to me a very familiar story of our growing up time.

We weren't from a rich family but i'd say our parents earn enough to bring us up without us having to go through much of painful child labour. When we were young, my mother did not have the luxury to buy us toys whenever we asked for...i think from the very beginning, we know our limits and we hardly even ask for anything. You get toys when adults get you, you dont ask for it. Simple as that.

There's this particular box of Monopoly, my mother kept it on the top shelf of her wardrobe. She would occasionally brought it out for us to play when we did something good or on special occasions. Yeah, it was just a box of Monopoly. It wasnt those in cheap A6 size box where the board was made of paper and you can fold it 4-6times. This box of monopoly would have cost quite a sum back then. Nice cardboard with everything neatly printed. We would always treasure the time when we get to lay our hands on the dice and touch the soft-printed paper money. If the box were given to us right from the beginning, we probably wouldnt treasure it as much anymore...and it would probably get really dirty and most likely we would have gone bored of it after a week or two.

Such is the way of life...when you get to have something so easily; without much effort or sacrifice...we would grow tired of it very quickly too...so play hard to get when you can, for life is just another game of Monopoly.

The Farmer and the Land

A friend of mine recently relate to me a particularly intruguing
story. Of a Farmer and a Land.

Once upon a time, there is a piece of Land. Perhaps during its glorier
days have been pretty captivating.
But as time moves on, the Land began to dry...and the number of
farmers interested in this piece of land has decreased dramatically.
There is one particular Farmer though, for few years have not given up
on this piece of land. This Farmer nurtured the land whenever a chance
is given.
The Land knew the Farmer was interested and keen to acquire it to
start a garden or perhaps grow it into a potato farm, with lotsa small
potatoes.
But the Land being the choosy one chose to keep that Farmer at bay and
rather let no one tend to it instead. Years gone by, not a single new
and potential farmer show up...and the Land grew wearier as it began
to dry up. The price of the Land has dropped significantly. Bidders
were few or none. Except for the particular Farmer who still bid the
Land at its once peak price. In the end, the Land finally accepted
that bid. I would believe the Farmer would have been the most happiest
person. Finally the bid has won the Farmer its prized Land. But will
the prized Land be worth the same land it used to be back then? And
will the Land still be satisfied with the bid price...and produce the
Farmer with equal quality of flowers and potatoes? Will the Farmer be
forever happy although knowing that it is not the Land's first choice
but rather no-choice?
Life is mostly about demand and supply, but in this case...life is
just fascinating! Stay tuned for the next boring episode of the Farmer
and its mundane piece of Land.

Caffeine Junkie

All my life...from the moment i started drinking till this day, i have never consume more than 3 cups of gourment coffee per day.
But on this day of my 32nd anniversary i took up a challenge to down 4 in 4 hours. Thats a simple math of 1 cup / hour!
Although i do not need to fork out a single cent, it is not the monetary value that i worry about. What lies ahead...is frightening.
Machiato, Latte, Mocha and Cappucino. The cocktail mixologist in me were screaming when the challenge was thrown, i gulped it down and pressed on.
Its 1630, and i still have the Cappucino and about 1/4 of Mocha to go. I'm feeling rather sick already. I hope I wont throw up in office and make fool in front of my new colleagues.

Get set, ready...FLY!

This is my 2nd week into my 5th or 6th job. I couldnt properly keep track now. Like all the past jobs I've held, the first 6 months to a year...it is all good and jolly...well, most of the jobs at least. This one is no difference and i'm keeping the ball rolling on my own with a few gentle push and tugs.

I've been to the Gym twice now with M, my new staff pass allows me access to Intercontinental's Clark Hatch for free. The first thing among others which i'm glad about. I've made a pact with M, this will be our Thursday evenings from now on.

Next best thing should come in May; and it will most likely occupy my Wednesday nights...but the story will have to wait until then.

This evening, after work... myself and Terrence rushed over to Lavendar eagerly seeking our new thrill. After paying 160$, and 1.5hours later, we both agreed that we would be doing this again for many more times to come. Though we both left feeling alot worse...AND better than before. Worse for the fear of what tomorrow may bring to our fragile and weak body...better for the fact that we are now acolytes of Sifu Chua. We just acquired our Level 1 - 小念头. We can bring some pain to petty thieves now! My new Monday routine for many more months to come; or at least that's what i hope.

That leaves me with only Tuesday and Friday. If all goes according to plan, my Tuesdays will be filled up pretty soon. And I think I'm gonna leave my Fridays for some Happy Hour, just in case ;)

The long road home

From the thrill and new breath of air when i stepped out of my old company, to my uneventful but relaxed break back home, to the hazy weather and chilly streets of Hanoi. Time has flown by me by 3 weeks or so.

I've managed to finished the book of souls and left it in the good hands of dylan. The tiring trip to Halong Bay...the dreadful 3.5hours drive from Hanoi to Halong City...the boring boat ride into the bay but splendour cave exploration...and the other dreadful 3.5hours bus ride back to Hanoi...with a drunken German guy bashing away political trash with an American at the back of bus...its all a very tiring 'adventure', and it was just the only beginning. Not to mentioned i've been conned twice by cab drivers...one armed with a fake taxi meter that beats even faster than my old heart could take, the other...a pretentious scumbag who 'mistakenly' took my 100k as 10k, and i only realize it till way after.

On my 3rd day, just when i'm waking up from a late night of watching 'the nottie and the hottie' with dylan till 3am, i was greeted with the news of his father's passing. He was up way earlier than me and was already rushing out of the door right after telling me to make myself at home and to lock up the doors when i leave on Sunday. I was still...striken. The entire day, i couldnt help but to think of the tragedy...a death all so sudden...and it had to happen when i was visiting. Somehow it took a big bite on my mood for the rest of the day. I spent the day wandering the museum and old prison house...and having ice cream...and again, walking by the big lake. I paid a persistent motor driver - Van, 140K for taking me around the few places in his motorbike. Something which i thought would probably help clear my head from the weather, i'm glad it did somewhat. It's another hazy day out, a gray afternoon and it began to drizzle past 6pm just right after i was done with some light souvenir shopping. I decided to flag a cab back and had a quick dinner by the cafe downstairs.

It's 930pm back home...830pm local time. The nights' still new, the streets still bustling with honks and beeps. I just wish tomorrow would come sooner, I'm eager to go back home. I've booked another ticket...one earlier than my supposed flight. One which i've spent a handsome amount on...but the thoughts of having to spend another full day here having to wander town alone in such a mood sort of makes everything worthwhile. I'm only looking forward to go home, spend some time in the company of friends and silently prepare for my 1st new day at work. I hope dylan is pulling through alright, i made a silent prayer at the shrine by the museum earlier. In the hopes that his father would find redemption soon.